State law does not require charter school teachers and principals to be certified, except in the case of teachers assigned to teach in special education or bilingual programs, in which case the appropriate state certification is required.
State law also requires open-enrollment charter school teachers and principals to have a baccalaureate degree. Charter schools must perform criminal history checks on prospective employees and volunteers.
Conclusion: Certification Requirements for Charter School Teachers
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There is no statewide certification required to teach at a charter school in Texas. As public schools they may hire certified teachers. They may hire uncertified too.
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Charter school students in Texas receive a funding advantage of $1,100 compared with students in our state’s major urban and suburban school districts. Read more. Related. How do I change my Sole Proprietorship to an LLC in Texas? Check your business name if you want to change from a sole proprietor to a limited liability company. A unique business name is required.
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Both charter and traditional public school educators teaching special education or bilingual education must be credentialed. Individual charter schools set their own policies for teacher certifications. Charter schools provide a wide range of educational experiences for both students and teachers because there are so many different schools to choose from and more are opening every year.
Conclusion: Certification Requirements for Charter School Teachers
The realm of teacher certifications brings differences to the forefront. Are teachers required to hold certifications? The short answer is, it depends. We must consider: what student population the teacher is working with (what classes) and what the actual charter agreement with TEA and local policy outlines. Here’s what the law says: Teachers must have at least a baccalaureate degree unless teaching special education or bilingual education/ESL. Then certification is required.
Who does the Texas Education Code apply to?
Although charter schools in Texas teach the same basic curriculum, some believe certification brings quality education. Clay Robison with the Texas State Teachers Association said charters hire uncertified teachers to pay less than public schools.
Do charter schools follow Ed code?
The first section of the Texas Education Code says, " This code applies to all educational institutions supported in whole or in part by state tax funds unless specifically excluded by this code." This means charter schools can choose to operate under different laws than traditional public schools. There is no one answer regarding whether charter schools follow Ed Code. Some states have specific regulations for charter schools, while others have less stringent guidelines. In either case, charter schools must meet basic requirements as traditional public schools.
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Under the School Code, charters must maintain the same criminal history checks, meetings, regulations, programs, rights, records, and assessment system as public schools. They must offer aligned core courses, but can design their own curriculums and programs. A charter school is a publicly funded, exempt from most Education Code, K-12 school, usually created by a group of teachers, parents and leaders, sponsored by an existing board. Goals and procedures are detailed in a charter agreement.
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A charter school receives state funding, is non-sectarian, open to any student, and cannot charge tuition. By law, it must offer minimum annual instructional minutes to each grade and maintain attendance records available for audit and inspection. A charter school must enroll students with disabilities and provide eligible special education students with appropriate free services. Regarding enrollment applications, it is illegal to request health and disability information until after acceptance. Excel Academy has reviewed suspension/expulsion code and established similar procedures.
As required, audit every charter school under your jurisdiction annually, ensuring no illegal admissions or enrollments. Direct noncompliant schools to correct policies.